EP1162568B1 - Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre - Google Patents

Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1162568B1
EP1162568B1 EP01203064A EP01203064A EP1162568B1 EP 1162568 B1 EP1162568 B1 EP 1162568B1 EP 01203064 A EP01203064 A EP 01203064A EP 01203064 A EP01203064 A EP 01203064A EP 1162568 B1 EP1162568 B1 EP 1162568B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
recording
test
printing
head
patterns
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EP01203064A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1162568A2 (fr
EP1162568A3 (fr
Inventor
Shigeyasu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Nagoshi
Makoto C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Torigoe
Hiromitsu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hirabayashi
Miyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Matsubara
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Publication date
Priority claimed from JP12639393A external-priority patent/JP3332471B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP12639493A external-priority patent/JP3332472B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP23332693A external-priority patent/JP3444937B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP25849993A external-priority patent/JP3323603B2/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP1162568A2 publication Critical patent/EP1162568A2/fr
Publication of EP1162568A3 publication Critical patent/EP1162568A3/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/10—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by matrix printers
    • G06K15/102—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by matrix printers using ink jet print heads
    • G06K15/105—Multipass or interlaced printing
    • G06K15/107—Mask selection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J19/00—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms
    • B41J19/14—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms with means for effecting line or character spacing in either direction
    • B41J19/142—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms with means for effecting line or character spacing in either direction with a reciprocating print head printing in both directions across the paper width
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J19/00—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms
    • B41J19/14—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms with means for effecting line or character spacing in either direction
    • B41J19/142—Character- or line-spacing mechanisms with means for effecting line or character spacing in either direction with a reciprocating print head printing in both directions across the paper width
    • B41J19/145—Dot misalignment correction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K2215/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data
    • G06K2215/0002—Handling the output data
    • G06K2215/0062—Handling the output data combining generic and host data, e.g. filling a raster
    • G06K2215/0071—Post-treatment of the composed image, e.g. compression, rotation
    • G06K2215/0074—Depleting the image
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K2215/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data
    • G06K2215/0082—Architecture adapted for a particular function
    • G06K2215/0094—Colour printing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K2215/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data
    • G06K2215/101—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data involving the use of ink jets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K2215/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data
    • G06K2215/111—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data with overlapping swaths

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an ink jet recording method and apparatus for recording an image on a recording material by ejecting ink droplets in conformity to the data of the image.
  • the recording devices of this kind are generally provided for the sake of enhancing their recording speed with a modified multi-head which has a plurality of ink nozzles and conduits integrally arrayed therein. Further, to permit production of color images, they are provided with a plurality of such multi-heads.
  • the color printer needs to fulfill various factors such as color development property, gradient of tone, and uniformity in printing color images.
  • uniformity in particular, even slight inconstancy possibly caused among nozzle units by a deviation involved in the process of manufacture of a multi-head affects the amounts of ink droplets discharged through individual nozzles and the directions in which the ink droplets are ejected in the course of printing and eventually impairs uniform density of a printed image and deteriorates the quality of the produced image.
  • Fig. 48A 91 stands for a multi-head which is identical with a multi-head shown in Fig. 49A.
  • this multi-head is assumed to comprise 8 multinozzles 92.
  • Denoted by 93 are ink droplets which are ejected by the multinozzles 92 Generally, the ink is ideally ejected in droplets of a uniform amount in parallel directions as illustrated in the diagram. If the ink is ejected as just described, then ink dots of a uniform size will land on the paper surface as illustrated in Fig. 48B and form a wholly uniform image free from uneven density (Fig. 48C).
  • This method requires the multi-head 91 to make three passes (or three scans) to complete such a print area as shown in Fig. 48A to Fig. 48C.
  • One half of the area consisting of four picture element units is completed by two passes of the multi-head 91.
  • the eight nozzles of the multi-head are divided into two groups, namely the upper and the lower group of four nozzles.
  • the dots printed by one nozzle in one pass (or one scan) are such as result from thinning relevant image data roughly to one half in accordance with a prescribed image data array.
  • the first and the second scans split the image data in a mutually offsetting manner in accordance with a prescribed array.
  • the image data array (thinning pattern)
  • the unit printing area (composed of four picture element units), therefore, the printing is completed by the first scan which prints a shepherd's check and the second scan which prints an inverted shepherd's check.
  • FIG. 51A, 51B, and 51C portray how the record in a given area is completed with these shepherd's checks and inverted shepherd's checks by use of a multi-head provided with eight nozzles as illustrated in Figs. 50A to 50C.
  • the first scan records a shepherd's check by use of the four lower nozzles (Fig. 51A).
  • the second scan records an inverted shepherd's check 0 by feeding the paper across four picture elements (one half of the head length) (Fig. 51B).
  • the third scan again records a shepherd's check by feeding the paper across four picture elements (one half of the head length) (Fig. 51C).
  • the record area of four picture element units is completed for each scan by sequentially alternating the feeding of the paper across four picture element units and the recording of a shepherd's check and an inverted shepherd's check as described above. Since the print is completed in one and the same area by use of two different kinds of nozzles as described above, this method permits production of an image of high quality free from uneven density.
  • the drawing depicts the split recording method as adapted to complete a record in one and the same area by two passes. It should be remarked, however, that the effect of the split recording method gains in conspicuity in proportion as the number of groups into which the nozzles are divided increases. Even the recording apparatus described above is enabled to complete an image in one scanning direction by use of four kinds of nozzles when the number of picture elements to be recorded by one pass is further halved and the scan for paper feeding is given a scanning width of two picture elements (one quarter of the head length). Thus, this apparatus is capable of producing a smoother and more desirable image.
  • the split recording of this principle has the disadvantage that the time cost for printing a given image on one paper surface increases and the throughput consequently decreases inevitably in proportion as the number of groups into which the nozzles are divided increases.
  • a method of adapting a carriage to produce printing and scanning operations on both the forward and backward directions may be conceived.
  • this method can substantially halve the recording time spent normally heretofore on one paper surface because it wholly eliminates the motion which the carriage would have otherwise produced in returning idly to its home position after the recording by one pass has been completed.
  • the monochromic printing apparatuses which adopt the principle of reciprocating printing are not few.
  • Figs. 52A to 52D illustrate a head in the process of moving at a fixed velocity V in the forward or the backward direction while causing an ink drop to be ejected at a fixed velocity v to a smooth paper surface.
  • the timing of the reciprocating printing motions of the head with respect to the discharge of ink is so set in advance that the position of the dot printed on the forward pass may coincide with that of the dot printed on the backward pass.
  • the paper surface is somehow caused to rise from the normal level as shown in Fig.
  • FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of the picture element array obtained by a varying recording scan in accordance with the split recording method designed to complete an image by four recording scans and the condition of a print of dots obtained therein.
  • the picture element array to be printed by each recording scan has thinning masks (a) to (d) for the picture element arrays which are complementary to one another.
  • the picture element array of the thinning mask used for the first recording scan and that used for the third recording scan are printed during the forward pass of the head, while those used for the second and the fourth recording scan are printed during the backward pass of the head.
  • the number of picture elements recorded in the forward pass and that recorded in the backward pass are equal. If the deviation of dots shown in Figs. 52C and 52D occurs under this condition, the dots printed during the forward pass and those printed during the backward pass will deviate from each other and give rise to gaps between the horizontal rows of dots and between the vertical columns of dots to the extent of imparting a coarse appearance conspicuously to the produced image as shown in Fig. 2B.
  • the image produced in this state betrays uneven density and inferior linearity of characters and lines because of the uneven arrangement of dots.
  • the split recording method of this principle has been already disclosed as in JP-A-60-107,975 and USP 4,967,203 . It is described as profoundly effective in countering such adverse phenomena as uneven density and lengthy streaks.
  • the former patent specification defines this method as "being characterized by comprising means to assign a smaller width to the area of paper feed by each main scan than the width of said main scan and impart an overlapping part to the widths of two adjacent main scans and means to array printed dots in said overlapping part in such a manner as to prevent said printed dots from overlapping each other during said two main scans".
  • the thinning masks are so adapted as to "print an odd-number stage and an even-number stage alternately every other row", or to print an odd-number stage by the first main scan and an even-number stage by the second main scan, or alternatively to produce random recording by each pass.
  • the thinning masks and the paper feed widths are not completely defined.
  • the invention under discussion discloses a recording method which comprises forming a pseudo pixel (superpixel) with an aggregate of several picture elements for the sake of gradient expression or multicolor expression and producing non-adjoining but alternating thinned prints with the superpixel units in the horizontal and vertical directions.
  • the specification has this passage: "Once the system for embodying this method is incorporated in a program software or a printer formware, the program of the system can be retrieved with a combined color number designated with respect to relevant superpixels and, therefore, the quality of print in question can be accomplished without indiscriminately complicating the work of forming a computer program for the production of a host of colors.”
  • the simplification of programming for the multicolor expression is adduced as one of the effects of this invention. Further, a mention is made to the effect that since the individual superpixels are intended to be perceived as unique uniform colors, the color bleeding possibly occurring in the superpixels is harmless.
  • the split recording described above is at a disadvantage in requiring a large time cost for printing on one paper surface and entailing an inevitable decrease in the throughput.
  • a method of adapting the carrier to produce reciprocating printing and scanning may be conceived. This method, in fact, can substantially halve the time required for recording on one paper surface because it wholly eliminates the motion which the carriage would have made otherwise in idly returning to its home position after the recording by one pass has been completed.
  • the monochromic printing apparatuses which adopt the principle of reciprocating printing are not few. A color ink jet apparatus constructed as contemplated by the present invention had not yet been realized for the following reason.
  • Figs. 54A to 54D are cross sections illustrating drops of the recording inks of popular use today in the process of falling onto a paper surface and subsequently diffusing in the wall of the paper.
  • the diagrams represent the case of causing drops (dots) of the two inks different in color to fall with a time lag at two virtually adjoining positions on the paper surface and then diffuse (recording) in the paper.
  • What should be remarked in this case is the fact that, in the part of the paper at which the two dots have overlapped each other, the dot which has landed the paper later tends to sink farther in the direction of thickness of the paper than the dot which has landed the paper earlier.
  • This phenomenon may be logically explained by postulating that during the physical and chemical union of the coloring matter like a dye in the ejected ink with the recording medium, since the union of the recording medium with the coloring matter has its own limit, the union of the coloring matter of the earlier ejected ink with the recording medium proceeds preferentially and, therefore, the dot of this ink remains much on the surface of the recording paper and the coloring matter of the ink landing the paper later is not easily bound on the surface of the recording medium but left sinking farther in the direction of thickness of the paper and lodged fast in the depth of the paper unless the strength of union widely varies with the kind of coloring matter.
  • the preference of coloring is varied by the sequence in which the two inks land on the paper. As a result, they will have expressed two different colors to the visual characteristics of man. It is now assumed that the colors of a four-color head are sequentially arranged from right in the order of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow and the head is reciprocated in the direction of arrangement of these colors (left to right) to effect a main scan. In the forward pass (or forward scan), the head is moved to the right and simultaneously caused to perform a recording action. At this time, the order of recording colors conforms to the aforementioned order in which the colors are arranged.
  • green dots having a chromatic taste strongly of cyan and green dots having a chromatic taste strongly of yellow are recorded in accordance with forward passes and backward passes which are made by each of the recording heads. If the paper feeding is made by the width of the head as a unit for each of the forward and backward passes without using the split recording method in each pass, the areas of green having a chromatic taste strongly of cyan and those of green having a chromatic taste strongly of yellow will be alternated repeatedly by the width of the head as a unit and, as the result, the eventually produced green image which ought to be uniform in color will raise to serious degradation of quality.
  • JP-A-58-194,541 which has issued to the same applicant as the present invention discloses a technique for the operation of an apparatus which is provided with a plurality of parallelly arranged series of recording elements and adapted to effect the main scan of a record of a dot matrix by reciprocating the head in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the series of recording elements mentioned above.
  • This technique in the operation mentioned above, comprises causing a smaller number of dots than the total number of dots destined to be recorded in at least either of the columns and rows of the dot matrix to be recorded intermittently in the forward pass of the main scan and, at the same time, causing the remaining dots in at least either of the rows and columns of the matrix to be intermittently recorded in the backward pass of the main scan thereby varying the order of overlapping of record in the overlapped recorded dots produced by the aforementioned plurality of series of recording elements in the forward and the backward pass of the main scan.
  • the invention under discussion unlike the split recording already described, has no restriction designed to decrease the number of rounds of paper feeding from the ordinary number and, as a result, succeeds in preventing a recorded image from being degraded in quality by the deviation of color tone (uneven coloration) due to the overlapped recording of color inks.
  • this invention primarily aims to prevent deviation of color tone, it specifies no specially limited positions for the dots to be recorded by each pass.
  • the lateral thinning for effecting alternate recording only in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal thinning for effecting alternate recording only in the lateral direction are mentioned in addition to the recording in a checkerwise pattern (a shepherd's check and an inverted shepherd's check).
  • JP-A-55-113,573 discloses a construction for effecting a reciprocating recording by use of a twill line (a shepherd's check and an inverted shepherd's check) pattern, though not limited to a color printer.
  • the invention in this case aims to prevent the phenomenon of distortion of dots by avoiding continuous printing of adjacent dots and allowing an immediately succeeding dot to be printed before the immediately preceding dot dried up.
  • the invention under discussion limits the thinning masks to the twill line pattern.
  • the inventions of the three patents cited above invariably aim to prevent the uneven coloration or beading in the course of reciprocating recording. They, therefore, avoid adopting the construction for "decreasing the amount of paper feeding between adjacent passes to below the ordinary width of heat" for the purpose of preventing the uneven density due to the inconstancy of nozzles in quality unlike the split recording method demonstrated hereinabove.
  • the diagram represents the case of using a first pass (in the forward scan) to print a shepherd's check on a white paper and a second pass (in the backward scan) an inverted shepherd's check thereon.
  • the reference numeral 2001 denotes the state of the ink droplet immediately after the printing by the first pass (forward).
  • the part completely filled with black represents cyan ink and the hatched part yellow ink.
  • the cyan ink Since the yellow ink has been injected at the same position as previously occupied by the cyan ink with only a small time lag, the cyan ink is absorbed by the paper in a state of high density with a sign of sparing bleeding and the yellow ink is induced to bleed heavily to the extent of enveloping the lower side and the peripheral part of the cyan ink and eventually assuming a print of low density. Further at this time, these inks are absorbed and spread out so widely as to reach the immediately next picture element, with the result that the entire paper surface will be filled up with the inks as illustrated in Fig. 53.
  • the print made by the second pass (backward) under the condition mentioned above is superposed on the previously absorbed adjacent dots of ink as indicated by 2003. Since the second pass forms a backward scan, the yellow is printed first and the cyan next (2002). When these two inks are left to be absorbed, they eventually assume a state in which they do not appear very conspicuously to the surface as indicated by 2003. In the printed image finally produced, therefore, the density of the first printed cyan is emphasized most strongly and the area of this print forms a green image having a chromatic taste preferentially of cyan. Conversely, in the area of print adjoining the aforementioned area of print which has used the first pass for the backward scan, the cyan and the yellow change their positions and produce a green image having a chromatic taste preferentially of yellow.
  • Fig. 56 depicts the manner in which the two areas of print mentioned above appear. It is clearly noted from this diagram that the lower half part of the head always determines the preferential color in each area and this preferential color is reversed in the forward and backward scan. Since these two areas different in preferential color are alternately present, the phenomenon of uneven coloration still persists in the operation of split printing and impairs the produced image and renders the reciprocating printing virtually infeasible.
  • Figs. 57A to 57D illustrate the conditions of ink absorption during a first and a second pass similarly to Figs. 55A to 55C.
  • 2101 denotes the condition of ink which has landed on the paper surface by a first pass and 2102 and 2103 both denote cross sections of the paper which are assumed after the printing by a second pass.
  • 2102 represents the state in which the record by the second pass is formed immediately after the record produced by the first pass and 2103 the state in which the record by the second pass is formed after an interval of some length following the formation of the record by the first pass.
  • These two states show a difference in the state of absorption in the paper surface of the ink recorded by the second pass. While the ink dots 2102 are absorbed fairly in the direction of depth of the paper, the ink dots 2103 produced by the second pass are spread out on the surface of the paper. These behaviors of ink dots are discerned on the reverse side of the paper and the ink dots 2103 permeate to the reverse side of the paper to a greater extent than the ink dots 2102. These states of ink dots are manifested as a difference in density of the two inks on the paper surface as shown in Fig. 57C (2104) and Fig. 57D (2105).
  • the head makes a forward pass from the position of 2201 in the direction of the arrow to effect a record of the first scan width.
  • the paper is fed by one half of the scan width mentioned above and then the head makes a backward scan from the position of 2202 this time in the opposite direction. Again the paper is fed by the same width as mentioned above and the head then makes a forward scan from the position of 2203 to effect a record in the direction of the arrow.
  • the recording intervals of the two passes will be compared below with respect to the parts (1) to (6) in the area of print completed in this case.
  • the record by the second pass is commenced immediately after the record by the first pass has been completed and then the paper has been fed by the one half width.
  • the record by the second pass is commenced after the carriage, subsequent to the record by the first pass, has completed one reciprocating scan.
  • the parts (2) and (5) are recorded with a time lag exactly one half of the duration intervening between the first and the second record.
  • the parts (1) and (6) acquire the highest density, followed by the parts (2) and (5), and the parts (3) and (4) absorb inks to a great depth in the paper and acquire a low surface density.
  • the phenomenon of uneven image density appear in the left-hand area in which the passes (1) and (4) by one half width are repeated in the vertical direction and in the right-hand area in which the passes (3) and (6) are repeated.
  • the uneven density impaired the produced image.
  • the carriage is temporarily suspended when the recording apparatus performs a head recovery scan for the sake of maintaining its own drive in the course of recording or it keeps itself waiting for arrival of record data being transmitted. Then, the suspension of this nature induces irregular occurrence of uneven image density on a still larger order than the inconstancy of time lag described above. To be specific, the carriage enters the phase of suspension as held in the state ensuing from the production of the record by the first pass and, with a certain time lag, the printed area of recording assumes a higher density than the other areas.
  • This phenomenon of uneven image density induced by the factor mentioned above will be hereinafter referred to as "uneven density due to suspension” for the sake of distinction from the uneven density due to time lag described above.
  • the reciprocating printing has the possibility of causing positional deviation of ink dots on the paper surface in the forward and the backward printing owing to the accidental rise of the paper from its normal level as pointed out above.
  • Fig. 59 depicts the case of performing the split recording by the reciprocating printing using the conventional thinning mask of the pattern of a shepherd's check.
  • the diagram shows the ink dots deviating from their normal positions by one quarter of the size of a picture element. The portions in which adjacent ink dots overlap excessively one another and the portions in which wide gaps intervene between adjacent ink dots are made to appear at different positions owing to the use of thinning masks.
  • a gap of the size of one ink dot occurs after each ink dot.
  • the produced image assumes a low density throughout the entire area thereof.
  • the positional deviation of ink dots on the paper surface during the reciprocating printing is caused not only by partial rise or fall of the paper surface illustrated in Figs. 52C and 52D but also by various factors such as, for example, the inconstancy of the speed at which the recording head ejects the ink and the inconstancy of the speed of motion of the carriage. It is not easy to control the timing for discharging the ink during the reciprocating printing because the factors mentioned above are not constant in magnitude relative to the direction of the advance of the carriage.
  • the control of the landing positions of ink dots in the forward and the backward passes due to the adjustment of the timing for discharging the ink has its own limit.
  • the timing (frequency) for continuous discharge of ink through the individual nozzles is determined by the density of picture elements in the recorded image and the speed of motion of the carriage. If this timing cannot be controlled with amply high accuracy, the ink dots for recording on the surface of paper as the recording medium are incorrectly arrayed relative to the scanning direction of the carriage and the multi-heads, with the result that the recorded image will betray uneven density and inferior quality.
  • the recording ink dots produced by the head are allowed to form an ideal image array only when the throughput is exalted to the fullest possible extent and the head is driven under conditions such that the limit of frequency of the head and the given density of picture elements may be simultaneously satisfied with high accuracy.
  • the method of printing vertical linear patterns perpendicular to the direction of scan as spaced at an interval of not less than several mm is generally adopted for the sake of the test print pattern itself intended to select the optimum conditions and for the purpose of enabling the operator to make his decision as to the selection.
  • Figs. 4A and 4B depict such vertical linear patterns.
  • Figs. 36A to 36F One example of the conventional method for adjusting a reciprocating registration is illustrated in Figs. 36A to 36F.
  • (1) and (2) respectively represent forward print data and backward print data for carrying out the reciprocating printing of the type allowing the feeding of a recording medium to intervene between the passes in the two directions.
  • the vertical lines perpendicular to the direction of reciprocating scan which are illustrated in Fig. 36D constitute themselves the record pattern which is obtained by adjustment of normal registration based on the data mentioned above.
  • one vertical rectilinear test pattern is formed by printing vertical straight lines of 8 dots as spaced at a lateral interval of 4 dots in the forward and the backward passes.
  • the head is caused by a certain existent condition of itself to be moved along the longitudinal axis and, when this motion is made, the operator is enabled to insert the relevant numerical data of this motion into the recording apparatus proper and adjust the subsequent print timing during the reciprocating printing to the correction value.
  • Figs. 36B, 36C, 36E, and 36F represent the test patterns which aptly permit the visual determination of rectilinearity. They are record patterns for determining correction values for the compensation of positional deviation. They are obtained by successively varying the timing of backward print at an increment of 0.25 pixel from the record patterns of Fig. 36D as the median.
  • the test patterns of Figs. 36B, 36C, 36E, and 36F are rated as substantially equaling those of Fig. 36D.
  • the criterion heretofore adopted for visually rating and adjusting the test print is the unit of at least 1 pixel.
  • the reciprocating printing is performed by reciprocating the recording head relative to the recording width of the recording head while the recording medium is kept in a suspended state or when a plurality of color heads are parallelly driven
  • the maintenance of the optimum image quality by the control with a fixed drive parameter is likely to encounter an obstacle possibly posed as by changes in the circumstance in which the printer is being used.
  • Figs. 60A and 60B illustrate the manner in which a head 901 fixed on a carriage 706 in motion at a speed S ejects an ink drop at an angle ⁇ and a velocity V onto a paper surface placed at a distance P from the head respectively in the forward pass (Fig. 60A) and the backward pass (Fig. 60B).
  • the carriage speed is S in the forward pass and -S conversely in the backward pass and the angle of ejecting is fixed constantly at ⁇ .
  • Fig. 61 shows the magnitudes of the distances ⁇ F and ⁇ B, the difference ( ⁇ F - ⁇ B), and the amount of positional deviation of ink dots which are found when the distance P, the carriage speed S, the ejection speed V, and the discharge angle ⁇ shown in Figs. 60A and 60B are varied in the forward and the backward pass.
  • the data given in the second and following rows of the table show the fact that the proper correction value ( ⁇ F - ⁇ B) is varied from one case to another because the magnitudes of various factors are varied little by little. Since the head is driven in these cases with the same timing as that used for the operation yielding the data of the uppermost row, varying amounts of positional deviation of dots inevitably arise. Thus, the magnitudes of deviation indicated in these rows represent differences of optimum correction value ( ⁇ F - ⁇ B) respectively from the magnitude shown in the uppermost row.
  • the individual factor values are varied within the ranges generally accepted for variation of such values. It is remarked from this table that the factor capable of affecting the deviation of dots in the two directions to the greatest extent is the paper distance P. From the table, it is noted that when the paper distance fixed at 1.2 mm is varied by a correction value of only ⁇ 0.2 mm, this variation gives rise to a deviation of 42.29 ⁇ m (not less than a half picture element at a picture element density of 360 dpi).
  • the recording papers of an ordinary run have a staple thickness of about 100 ⁇ m. The variation of thickness of the order just mentioned is easily affected by the inconstancy of the paper distance among the recording apparatuses proper and the inconstancy of craftsmanship among the recording heads. Thus, the corrections must be made in accordance with the conditions of a particular recording apparatus.
  • the variation of the paper distance under discussion which is caused by the inconstancy of the recording apparatus itself can occur while the printing is in process.
  • the part of the recording paper engaging in the printing operation should be kept in a flat smooth state by paper retainers disposed one each before and after the site of printing.
  • the part of the recording paper already used for printing possibly entails shrinkage of fibers therein because of the absorption of the ink.
  • this particular part is likely to be raised from the normal level.
  • the paper distance P is apt to vary in the forward and the backward pass in each recording scan. This rise of the paper (hereinafter referred to as "cockling”) varies the optimum correction value and consequently gives rise a positional deviation of dots during the reciprocating printing.
  • the correction value can not be kept constant because of various factors. It has been ascertained that the correction of the positions of ink dots is desirable when the reciprocating printing is carried out or when the record is produced with a plurality of heads.
  • DE-A-4015799 describes a method for adjusting a serial recording device with a recording head moveable back and forth perpendicular to a recording substrate feed direction so that the recording head can perform recording during both the forward and the return motion.
  • a test recording process is carried out in which a first test pattern is recorded initially at least once during the forward motion and then a second test pattern is recorded at least once during the return motion. Adjustment on registration is achieved when the first test pattern is disposed symmetrically relative to the second test pattern so that the first and second test patterns present a uniform pitch as shown in Figure 4.
  • the present invention provides a method of recording printing position deviation adjusting test patterns as set out in claim 1.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus as set out in claim 14.
  • An embodiment of this invention provides a novel test print method and apparatus for enabling an operator or automatic reading means to evaluate a test print image easily and accurately.
  • An embodiment of this invention provides a test print method and apparatus for accomplishing ideal recording characteristics accurately without being affected by the material or thickness of a recording medium.
  • An embodiment of this invention provides a test print method and apparatus capable of notably improving the accuracy of evaluation of a test print image by adopting as the criterion for evaluation the uniformity of the test print image such as the presence or absence of image or the change of color tone instead of the rectilinearity of a test pattern and accomplishing fine adjustment by the unit of several ⁇ m or not more than one picture element.
  • An embodiment of this inventions provides an ink jet recording apparatus furnished with a test pattern print mode which effects formation of a test pattern within the range of a prescribed width of a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a "fixed area") while the recording medium is in a suspended state by the printing operations performed in a forward and a backward pass provided severally with pertinent divisions of the data for forming the test pattern to be printed in the fixed area instead of putting the recording medium to motion between the forward and the backward pass.
  • This mode is at an advantage in precluding the quality of image of the test print from being degraded by the motion of the recording medium and permitting exact determination of the mutual positional deviation of the divisions of data for the formation of the test pattern because the recording medium is kept from motion during the formation of the test pattern.
  • an ink jet recording apparatus embodying the invention allows the determination of the positional deviation to be attained more stably with an exalted accuracy than the conventional technique owing to the adoption of the uniformity of a test print image such as the presence or absence of image of the test pattern itself or the change in color tone as the criterion for determination.
  • the determination based on the presence or absence of image is accomplished by causing the test pattern owing to the printing operations in the forward and the backward pass based on the pertinent divisions of data to be realized in the form of a linear pattern produced in the direction of the reciprocating scan, desirably in the form of a pattern resulting from arranging a plurality of such linear patterns in the direction of the reciprocating scan as spaced at a minute gap relative to a direction perpendicular to the direction of the reciprocating scan, and more desirably in the form of a substantially zonal linear pattern in the direction of the reciprocating scan.
  • linear pattern implies that the divisions of data themselves have dot intervals of not more than 300 ⁇ m relative to the direction of the reciprocating scan or have these dot intervals of not more than 300 ⁇ m in the state of satisfying the actual normal registration so that the target normal registered print is enabled to discern visually a substantial line print.
  • minute gaps in the direction intersecting the direction of the reciprocating scan implies that the determination by visual observation is facilitated by the plurality of linear patterns on the order of not more than 1 mm, preferably not more than 500 ⁇ m.
  • linear pattern implies that since the ordinary resolution by visual observation is about 150 ⁇ m at a distance of 25 cm from the image, substantially normal dots are made to form lateral straight lines such that the normal registration eventually formed by the divisions of data may have dot intervals of not more than 150 ⁇ m.
  • substantially zonal linear pattern implies that the normal registration eventually formed by the divisions of data have dot intervals of not more than 150 ⁇ m (optimally the dots forming a continuous line) relative to the lateral direction and the dot intervals in the state of satisfying the actual normal registration are not more than 300 ⁇ m (preferably not more than 150 ⁇ m) and, therefore, those images which can be regarded as wholly filled images of a uniform density distribution as visually observed are invariably embraced by the term.
  • patterns of uniformity call for varied conditions on account of such defects as inconstancy of ink droplets and bleeding of ink on the recording medium.
  • this uniformity is only required to be such that when a uniform pattern of a prescribed area is test printed, the positional deviation of dots smaller than one picture element can be easily determined in the pattern in view of the occurrence of uneven density or the presence or absence of texture as the criterion.
  • the patterns formed by the forward and the backward pass in accordance with the pertinent divisions of data for the formation of a test pattern are desired severally to be arrayed consecutively over a fixed distance regularly in the vertical and the lateral direction as spaced at a pitch within several picture elements.
  • the term "a pitch within several picture elements" may be construed as a size not exceeding 400 ⁇ m.
  • the fact that the print by the forward pass and the print by the backward pass are produced by turns as in the linear pattern of the reciprocating scan which allows the print by at least either of the two opposite passes to intervene between the prints by the other pass is advantageous in providing a test print in which the phenomenon of "misregistration" of either of the prints is easily determined distinctly in the form of a clear increase of image or area or an increase of ratio of variation in the density distribution.
  • the linear pattern is desired to have the greatest possible length. The length is desired to be not less than 1 cm instead of not less than 5 mm. Practically, however, this length is desired to be in the range of 2 cm and 8 cm.
  • the test pattern should be such that in an area pattern occupying a prescribed area, the portions in which dots recorded by the backward scan are present to the light of the dots recorded by the forward scan and the portions in which dots recorded by the backward scan are present to the left of the dots mentioned above arise under the condition that in at least two portions the dots recorded by the forward scan adjoin the dots recorded by the backward scan.
  • This condition is desirable because the portions in which two dots are excessively overlapped and the portions in which two dots are excessively separated are simultaneously allowed to exist within the area pattern when the dots of the forward scan and those of the backward scan deviate.
  • Such a change of density as is discerned in this case constitutes itself a unit for clarifying the uneven density or permitting perception of texture for the sake of visual observation or automatic evaluation of density.
  • the fact that the dots recorded by the forward pass and the dots recorded by the backward pass continue mutually at a plurality of points proves desirable in allowing changes of density to be discerned more readily (see working examples).
  • the ease with which the determination of uneven density or occurrence of texture is obtained can be exalted by increasing the frequency of the aforementioned points of adjoining dots.
  • the exaltation is accomplished, for example, by complicating the thinning pattern or increasing the test print areas in the scanning direction or by increasing the length of the direction intersecting the direction of scan to the range in which the record dots produced by the recording head are wholly put to use.
  • the increase of the area occupied by the area pattern is desirable because it not only enhances the sensitivity of uneven density and occurrence of texture but also permits adjustment of dot positions possibly associated with such various instable factors as uneven scan of the carriage, uneven motion of the recording medium (as encountered in the repetition of test patterns of this invention), and cockling of the recording medium.
  • the divisions of data are desired to comprise at least four kinds of data so that a plurality of kinds of data may be assigned each to the forward and the backward pass and a plurality of reciprocating passes may form the line pattern mentioned above.
  • This arrangement enhances the fastness of deposition of ink droplets on the paper surface and, at the same time, accomplishes the exaltation of accuracy.
  • An embodiment of this invention permits necessary designation of test patterns of the test pattern print mode by preparing a plurality of severally different fixed area test patterns as the test pattern print mode and properly designating the plurality of fixed area test patterns.
  • This designation of test patterns enables the accuracy of the apparatus to be adjusted as required.
  • the apparatus preparatorily to the shipment from the factory may be subjected to high-accuracy evaluation and, after arrival at the customer's office, left to be evaluated by the operator with advertence of the ordinary level.
  • the first test pattern which contains the central area of the recording medium and the areas located to the left and the right of the central area as test print areas may be cited.
  • the second test pattern which contains a fewer areas than in the first test pattern as test print areas may be used.
  • the high-accuracy evaluation described above is desirable because it is capable of taking into account the whole condition in the direction of width of the recording medium.
  • Fig. 45 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the construction of an ink jet recording apparatus to which this invention is applicable.
  • 701 stands for each of ink cartridges disposed in array.
  • These ink cartridges 701 comprise ink tanks severally packed with inks of the four colors, black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), and multi-heads 702 corresponding to the colors.
  • the appearance of multinozzles 801 disposed on the multi-head as viewed from the direction of Z is illustrated in Fig.
  • the multinozzles 801 are arrayed on the multi-head 702. While the multinozzles 801 are portrayed in this diagram as arrayed parallelly to the Y axis, they may be more or less inclined relative to the XY plane of the diagram. The multinozzles 801, when so inclined, continue their printing actions with their timings successively shifted, whereas the head continues advancing in the direction of advance X.
  • 703 stands for a paper feed roller which rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the diagram while keeping a printing paper 707 nipped in cooperation with an auxiliary roller 704 and sends the printing paper 707 in the direction of Y.
  • Paper supply rollers 705 supply a printing paper and, at the same time, discharge the role of nipping the printing paper 707 like the rollers 703 and 704.
  • a carriage 706 supports four ink cartridges and moves them as they continue their printing actions. The carriage 706 is adapted to stand by to await a command at its home position (h) indicated with a dotted line in the diagram while not engaged in the printing work or engaged in the work of restoring the multi-heads.
  • the recording heads respectively of the ink jet cartridges are adapted to spout ink drops by causing a change in the state of aggregate of ink by virtue of thermal energy.
  • the four ink jet cartridges mounted on the carriage 706 are so arrayed that, during the forward motion of the carriage, the black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink spouted through the respective multinozzles 801 may be superposed in the order mentioned.
  • the intermediate colors can be realized by properly superposing the ink dots of the colors C, M, and Y. For example, red is obtained by superposing M and Y, blue C and M, and green C and Y.
  • black is obtained by superposing the three colors C, M, and Y.
  • the black thus obtained is deficient in development of color. It forms a colored fringe because these colors are not easily superposed with high accuracy.
  • the superposition entails unduly dense injection of inks per unit time. Thus, the black is exclusively injected independently.
  • Fig. 47 is a block diagram illustrating a control part of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in Fig. 45.
  • 1201 stands for the control part which is constructed as centered around CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. and is operated to control the component parts of the apparatus in accordance with programs stored in the ROM.
  • Denoted by 1202 is a driver for driving a carriage motor 1205 serving the purpose of moving the carriage 706 in the direction X (for main scan) in compliance with a signal from the control part 1201, 1203 a driver for driving a transfer motor 1206 adapted to drive the paper supply roller 705 and the paper feed roller 703 and transfer a recording material in the direction of Y (for sub-scan) in compliance with a signal from the control part 1201, 1204 a driver for driving differently colored multi-heads 1207 to 1210 (corresponding to the component denoted by 702 in Fig. 9) in compliance with printing data issued from the control part 1201, 1211 an operation display part for displaying inputs from various keys and various data, and 1212 a host device for supplying printing data for the control part 1201.
  • the carriage returns to the home position and again starts printing data in the direction of X.
  • the carriage moves in one direction-X and simultaneously continues engaging in the printing operation.
  • the paper feed roller 703 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to feed a paper in the direction Y in accordance with the width of the recording area.
  • the printing of data on one paper surface is completed by the repetition of the unit cycle of printing and paper feed for each of the passes of the carriage as described above.
  • FIGs. 1A and 1B are diagrams for illustrating the present embodiment in comparison with the diagrams of Figs. 2A and 2B.
  • Figs. 1A to 2B four rounds of recording and scanning are carried out on a fixed area of a recording paper. The recording of an image on this fixed area is attained by sequentially recording a thinned image in each round of recording and scanning with a thinning mask in which picture element arrays are kept in a mutually complementary relation as shown in (a) to (d).
  • the odd number (first and third) rounds of recording and scanning are carried out in the forward pass of the reciprocating motion of the multi-head 702 and the even number (second and fourth) rounds of recording and scanning on the backward pass.
  • the squares of (e) and (f) respectively represent the sum of picture elements recorded in the forward pass and the sum of picture elements recorded in the backward pass.
  • Fig. 1B represents the condition of recording dots which have landed on a paper surface.
  • Fig. 1B like Fig. 2B illustrates the condition in which the reciprocating printing has given rise to positional deviation of dots in one quarter of the picture elements.
  • the print of Fig. 1B is found to have a smaller number of gaps than the print of Fig. 2B.
  • the object of this invention resides in rendering inconspicuous to the fullest possible extent the drawback of positional deviation of the dots inevitably caused between the two directions of printing by rise and fall of the paper surface or uneven drive of the paper during the bidirectional printing or by change in the speed of ink ejection. Now, therefore, the question as to what kind of array is generally required for the thinning mask in realizing the object mentioned above will be discussed below.
  • the number of gaps coincides with the number of points at which the dots deposited on the paper surface in the forward pass and the dots so deposited in the backward pass adjoin each other.
  • the gaps are formed next all the dots because the prints on the forward pass and those on the backward pass are caused to alternate as spaced at an interval of one dot.
  • the groups of dots printed in the fixed direction are in such a state as have two dots connected to each other in the lateral direction, no gap occurs between these two connected dots and the number of gaps can be reduced at a rate of one to two.
  • the number of gaps arising from the deviation of dots during the bidirectional printing is inevitably associated with the number of pairs of laterally connected dots in the sum of the individual picture element arrays formed in the unidirectional printing.
  • the present embodiment realizes the object of rendering inconspicuous the gaps which occur during the bidirectional printing because the picture element arrays as the sums of picture elements formed in the forward and the backward pass are aggregated as paired off in the direction of the advance of the head for scanning notwithstanding the picture element arrays to be used for each round of recording and scanning comprise one-picture element units which do not adjoin mutually.
  • the method of the present example is equally effective in the case of monochromic black prints and in the case of prints of a plurality of colors. In the case of a color ink jet recording apparatus, for example, such thinning arrays as are shown in Fig.
  • 1A may be used for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow in common or four picture element arrays of different colors may be circulated in each round of scanning. Further, the use of picture element arrays assuming entirely different complementary relations in each color may be expected to bring about the same effect as mentioned above so long as the picture element arrays for the unidirectional recording and scanning mutually adjoin as already described.
  • Example 2 The difference of this example from Example 1 resides in the fact that the picture element arrays in each round of recording are already formed with 1 x 4 dot groups and the portions of gaps are reduced in advance to one quarter irrespectively of the recording sequence of the individual picture element arrays.
  • the effect of this invention manifests itself between Figs. 3A and 3B on the one part and Figs. 4A and 4B.
  • the portion in which adjacent dots are recorded by the reverse scanning occurs at a ratio of 1 to 4 picture elements, in the direction of main scan.
  • one aggregate of sums of picture element arrays in the forward scan or sums of picture element arrays in the backward scan forms a chain of 8 picture elements.
  • the portions allowing the appearance of a gap are reduced proportionately to a ratio of 1 to 8 picture elements.
  • the present embodiment produces a print with emphasis exclusively on the black ink, it applies a picture element array different from that of other color as shown in Fig. 5A to black.
  • four rounds of scanning print an equivalent to a total of 200% duty, the individual rounds of scanning are responsible for a print of 50% each. If, in this case, the first two rounds of scanning complete a print of 100% as shown in Fig. 6A, the sum of picture element arrays in the forward printing and the sum of picture element arrays in the backward printing will inevitably equal the picture element arrays in a single round of scanning.
  • the print in the forward pass and the print in the backward pass will severally complete a 100% image independently of each other and, therefore, absolutely no gap will occur where the dots of the forward and the backward pass mutually deviate.
  • the print of such a duty ratio as exceeds 200% produces the same effect as the present example with respect to the deviation of dots in both the opposite directions even when the picture element arrays in each round of recording and scanning have their component picture elements separated asunder as in the case of the first example, providing the sum of picture elements recorded in the forward pass and the sum of picture elements recorded in the backward pass are each so formed as to complete a 100% print.
  • Figs. 7A to 7D represent the case of producing a unidirectional print with respect to color (C, M, Y) and a bidirectional print with respect to black.
  • the multi-head 702 is provided with only eight nozzles and is adapted to produce a reciprocating print in concert with the paper feed which is carried out at a speed of L/2, wherein L stands for the length of the head. This operation of the multi-head 702 is portrayed as continued from the first through the fourth round of recording and scanning.
  • the multi-heads equivalent to four colors are reciprocated by the carriage 706 and, in the meantime, the four out of the total of eight nozzles in the lower half of the multi-head are used to eject inks of relevant colors, K, M, and Y in this particular case, onto the picture elements shown in gray in the first recording area on the recording paper.
  • the multi-head is reciprocated by the carriage 706 and, in the meantime, the nozzles in the lower half of the head are used to eject only the ink of K onto the picture elements recorded in the first round of recording and scanning.
  • the multi-head In the third round of recording and scanning which follows the paper feed made at the speed of L/2, the multi-head is reciprocated by the carriage 706 and, in the meantime, all the eight nozzles in the head are used to eject the inks of K, M, Y to the picture elements indicated in gray in the first and the second recording areas on the recording paper. Subsequently, in the fourth round of recording and scanning, the multi-head is again reciprocated by the carriage 706 and all the eight nozzles in the head are used to eject the ink of K to the picture elements recorded in the third recording area. The operation described above completes a record in the first recording area.
  • the record with black in the forward pass is made in the same picture elements as entirely the same head position as in the backward pass. Even for the emphasis of black effected basically in the unidirectional printing, the present invention operates effectively.
  • the deviation of dots strictly is not a phenomenon which occurs exclusively during the bidirectional printing.
  • the warp in the paper surface varies from one to another round of recording and scanning and uneven driving more or less arises among the rounds of recording and scanning.
  • these adverse factors manifest themselves in the form of deviation of dots also during the unidirectional printing.
  • the picture element array based on 1 x 4 picture elements used in the present example is effective in decreasing the number of gaps from the level attainable in the first example. Besides, it can be expected to bring about the following effect.
  • the split recording method does not fully manifest its effect until the recording picture elements within the unit area are recorded substantially equally among the divisions of scanning.
  • the examples described thus far invariably represent cases of recording a 100% duty image. In any of the cases, therefore, an equal number of picture elements are recorded unexceptionally by four passes.
  • Most image data which are actually transmitted in the form of signals are outcomes of a procedure which comprises binarizing multivalued data representing a certain intensity in accordance with a prescribed method of binarization and shaping the product of binarization in a predetermined pattern. This procedure is effective for the Dither method which finds extensive utility among other methods of the class.
  • the direction of main scanning of the matrixes mentioned above is tuned to the 1 x 4 dot group and all the pairs of adjacent matrixes are no longer recorded simultaneously in each round of recording and scanning.
  • the difference in number of dots between successive rounds of recording and scanning does not appear relative to the direction of main scanning.
  • the recording can be invariably obtained with four kinds of nozzles.
  • the present embodiment realizes the object of rendering inconspicuous the gaps which occur during the bidirectional printing by using 1 x 4 basic picture element arrays in each round of recording and scanning and nevertheless causing the picture element arrays, i.e. the sum of picture elements in the forward pass and that in the backward pass, to be grouped into bound clusters each of eight picture elements in the direction of the advance of the head for scanning as described above.
  • the four kinds of picture element arrays with relevant colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow may be circulated as thinning arrays in each round of scanning.
  • the present embodiment is more effective than the first embodiment has been pointed out.
  • the first example nevertheless proves more effective than the present example such as when the recording paper to be used happens to be an OHP paper which has a poor ability to absorb ink.
  • the present example which is so constructed as to have different ink drops simultaneously recorded as mutually adjoined possibly entails the phenomenon that the adjacent ink dots attract one another and gather into larger ink drops and solidify on the recording medium.
  • the first example which allows such ink drops to remain in a mutually independent state may well be rated as more effective than the present embodiment.
  • the two embodiments cited thus far have been both depicted as representing cases of performing the four division printing of an equal printing duty.
  • the effect of this invention is not limited thereto.
  • the printing in question may be effected in three divisions, eight divisions, and so on, for example.
  • Figs. 8A and 8B represent cases of synthesizing the second and the fourth round of recording and scanning of Figs. 1A and 1B into a second round of recording and scanning and completing prints as divided into three levels, 25%, 50%, and 25%. Even in this case, this particular example is as effective in countering the problem posed to this invention as the first example because the number of gaps between dots is not changed.
  • This embodiment aims to prevent the positional deviation of dots caused in the bidirectional printing from deteriorating the quality of a recorded image by recording the image by use of a thinning mask which is obtained by arraying rectangular basic picture element groups each composed of m vertical picture elements (m ⁇ 1) and n lateral picture elements (n > m) in a pattern of P J (m ⁇ P ⁇ n) in the vertical direction so as to be partially overlapped.
  • Fig. 9 represents the appearance of dots which have landed on a paper surface when rectangular 1 x 4 basic picture element groups are arrayed in a staggered manner such that they may not be mutually adjoined in one round of scanning.
  • the number of gaps coincide with the number of portions in which the dots deposited in the forward and the backward pass are mutually adjoined.
  • gaps are inevitably formed next all the dots because the print in the forward pass and the print in the backward pass are alternately arrayed as spaced at an interval of one dot.
  • the groups each formed of a chain of four dots are simultaneously printed in the lateral direction as shown in Fig. 9 which depicts the present example, no gap occurs among the four dots and the number of gaps can be reduced to a rate of one to four.
  • the number of gaps due to the deviation of dots in the bidirectional printing is inevitably associated with the length of the basic dot group in the lateral direction thereof.
  • Figs. 10A and 10B represent the results of the reciprocating printing performed by use of thinning arrays of the present invention resorting to two versions of the method of binarization (Dither method) for the purpose of showing how the deviation of dots affects the produced images.
  • Dither method the method of binarization
  • the sparseness of gaps in a 100% duty print has been chiefly cited.
  • it is in a halftone having a duty level of about 50% that the deviation of dots in the opposite directions is most prominent.
  • the density and the granular sensation of the image or the deterioration of the image caused by the deviation of dots in the bidirectional printing manifest themselves more or less differently, depending on the kind of Dither method.
  • the dots in the bidirectional printing show a deviation of a size of one half of a picture element in one case and a deviation of a size of one full picture element in the other case, depending on the two versions, Dither A (Fig. 10A) and Dither B (Fig. 10B). It is noted from this diagram that the print associated with Dither A shows prominent vertical lines and that with Dither B shows relatively uniform dot density notwithstanding the dots deviate at an equal amount. When the 1 x 4 thinning arrays contemplated by the present example are used, therefore, the type of printing associated with Dither B produces an image which can be kept in a relatively desirable state. In Figs. 11A and 11B, the two versions of Dither method shown respectively in Figs.
  • 10A and 10B are represented in terms of the threshold within 8 x 8 picture elements.
  • the printing using Dither B produces an image stable at any duty level and uniform as compared with the printing using Dither A, though not supported particularly by illustration.
  • the print of the example just described has only sole picture elements in the vertical direction despite the presence of chains each of four picture elements arrayed in the lateral direction.
  • the effect of the present example does not easily manifest because of heavy bleeding of ink in the non-print area when the dots have a large diameter.
  • the construction under discussion fits such recording media as an OHP paper which absorbs ink rather slowly, entails uneven coloration to a lesser extent, and produces dots of a small diameter. There are times when the construction does not fit the recording media of this kind.
  • a thinning mask which is produced by preparing rectangular picture element groups enlarged in the vertical direction and arraying these groups in such a manner as to avoid mutually adjoining.
  • the use of a thinning mask of this nature results in decreasing the amount of ink suffered to bleed in the non-print area in one round of scanning and alleviating such defects as uneven density due to time lag between successive rounds of scanning or due to suspension uneven coloration ascribable to the recording sequence of color inks.
  • FIG. 12 The diagram of Fig. 12, on comparison with that of Fig. 13, exhibits the feature and the effect of this method to a better advantage by displaying the appearance of ink dots which have landed in a fixed area after the first round of scanning.
  • the dots recorded in a similar round of scanning land on picture elements which are not mutually adjoined (Fig. 13).
  • all the picture elements are aggregated into 3 x 4 groups, dots are recorded within these picture element groups in one pass, and the individual groups are so arrayed that the dots recorded in one pass may land on the positions which are not mutually adjoined.
  • the area covered by the ink of the first recording color decreases in proportion as the area covered by the dots overlapping in the individual groups increases and, as a result, the area of blank surface on which dots of the second and subsequent recording colors are allowed to land increases.
  • the ratio of the area to be occupied by the prior color of the first scanning is decreased and the area to be occupied by the prior color of the second scanning is proportionately increased.
  • the partiality between the two prior colors ceases to exist and the difference in color taste in the area in which the passes of scanning are repeated by the width of paper feed is decreased.
  • Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating the manner of recording effected by the present method as compared with the conventional technique illustrated in Fig. 56.
  • a head formed of 16 nozzles is used for bidirectional printing while the recording paper is fed by a unit width of 8 nozzles.
  • the data being recorded in this case are intended to produce a 100% green image using inks of cyan and yellow.
  • this diagram represents a case of recording dots 110 ⁇ m in diameter against a picture element density of 360 dpi.
  • the size of the make or the proper numerical value of m x n are varied by a given picture element density, the amount of ink to be ejected, the condition of the recording medium, and so on.
  • the effect of this method is not obtained when the numerical values of m and n are unduly small under the foregoing conditions.
  • the dot groups are so large as to be discerned by human eyes, then the difference of color taste between the adjacent groups becomes perceptible.
  • the produced image inevitably glares and betrays coarseness of texture.
  • This method is also effective for uneven image caused by time difference or by resting which are confirmed even through monochrome. Further, as already mentioned in a conventional example, the uneven image caused by time difference image is found in such a case that a second pass is recorded in an area where dots on a first pass bulge out and ooze out. Accordingly, as in this method, if dots on the first pass are adjacent to one another so that the build-out rate is small, the second pass recording can be made in a condition which is substantially identical with that of the first pass recording, thereby it is possible to eliminate any factor caused by overlapping of both two passes and affected by time difference. Fig.
  • the inclination of the number of printing pixels is large on each path even though the duty exceeds 50 %, and they are at last equal to each other when the duty comes to 100 %.
  • the duty exceeds 50 %
  • they are at last equal to each other when the duty comes to 100 %.
  • data over one pixel width in a main scanning direction is all recorded by only one and the same nozzle, and accordingly the inherent purpose of the split recording process as mentioned above, that is, elimination of uneven image density caused by uneven nozzles cannot be attained.
  • the 3 x 4 group is used as an interlacing mask, it is possible to obtain a high quality smooth image without uneven color image, uneven image caused by time difference, uneven image caused by resting and uneven image caused by nozzles.
  • the shape of the mask may be square, such as that of the 3 x 4 mask as mentioned hereinbefore.
  • a crosswise long mask can be used in order to prevent image deterioration caused by deviation of dots during bidirectional printing.
  • both bidirectional printing and unidirectional printing can be made even either with multicolors or with monocolor with no hindrance of uneven color image, uneven image by time difference, uneven image by resting and uneven image by nozzles.
  • the basic group has a size which is about three times as large, it is expected that the effects for uneven color image is relatively high.
  • the boundary of each basic group becomes noticeable, and accordingly, there is a risk of a rough image.
  • the number of gaps caused by deviation of the dots during bidirectional printing is similar to the case in which the 1 x 4 pixel group is used as a basic pixel group (refer to Fig.
  • the number of gaps are decreased to 1/4 in comparison with the conventional example (refer to Fig. 59).
  • the gaps are continued in the longitudinal direction, corresponding to three pixels, it is considered that they would become noticeable as textures if the size of the gaps becomes larger.
  • the interlacing mask for attaining the present invention can be realized with a pattern which is appropriate for each of the respective cases.
  • Fig. 17 shows a dot shot condition of an interlacing mask which can be simultaneously applied to four color printing in this embodiment, in comparison with Figs. 12 and 13. Similar to Figs. 18, 14 and 56, there is shown such a condition that a green 100 % image is formed when the above-mentioned mask is used.
  • Figs. 13 and 56 show a conventional method in which dots recorded during one and the same scan are shot onto alternate pixels which are not adjacent to one another.
  • Figs. 12 and 14 show a second embodiment in which all pixels are bundled into a 3 x 4 pixel group within which recording is made by one and the same pass, the groups are recorded at positions which are not adjacent one another on one and the same pass.
  • a mask having a 1 x 4 pixel group used as a basic group and shifted laterally by two pixels but longitudinally arranged adjacent to one another is used for recording.
  • the overlapping area of the dots in each group is made to be larger so as to make the ink covering area of the first recording color as small as possible as the main purpose thereof, and accordingly, it has been already mentioned that this is a method which is mainly effective for preventing uneven color image during bidirectional printing.
  • the number of longitudinal arrays is two which is small, and accordingly, the overlapping areas of dots in each group is more or less decreased.
  • the first recording color and the second recording color are substantially equally divided for the green image on a sheet, even in this embodiment, that is, uneven color image does not become hindrance.
  • Fig. 19 is a view from which the effect of the present embodiment can be best understood. Even in this figures, similar to Figs. 16 and 59, such a condition the positional shift of dots during bidirectional printing occurs, corresponding to 1/4 pixel in both directions, as mentioned above. In comparison with the other two figures, since the number of gaps in this embodiment is less, that is, since the gaps are uniformly distributed, no thin density similar to Fig. 59 occurs, and no longitudinal textures similar to Fig. 16 become noticeable.
  • the gaps are not adjacent to one another, that is, the gaps each having a small size corresponding to one pixel, are uniformly distributed over the image.
  • Such small size gaps are unnoticeable, and are also often invisible depending upon the size of dots and the degree of shifting. Further, since they are uniformly distributed, no hindrance occurs on the image as a whole.
  • the basic dot groups which are arranged adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction have to be arranged at positions which are shifted crosswise by more than one pixels.
  • the basic dot groups which are adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction have to be shifted, to either the right or the left, from one another by one pixels at the minimum but four pixels at the maximum.
  • the above-mentioned two conditions are intended for only shifting of dots during bidirectional printing, and accordingly, even though these conditions are satisfied, conventional hindrance to an image such as uneven image by nozzles, uneven color image or uneven image by time difference can be not always overcome.
  • the basic dot group is too laterally long in order to satisfy the condition (1), alleviation of uneven image by nozzles which has been conventionally inherent to the split recording process cannot be alleviated.
  • a 1 x 4 pixel group is used as a basic dot group as in this embodiment so that the lateral shifting in the condition is fixed to four pixels, the pattern shown in Fig. 9 is obtained.
  • the mask patterns in which basic groups are arranged longitudinally adjacent to one another while they are laterally shifted more than two but less than four pixels can eliminate uneven image caused by shifting of dots which it can provide an image having unnoticeable textures and a low ink covering rate.
  • the basic dot group (m x n) has an array of 1 x 4 pixels
  • the present invention should not be only limited to this array, even in either of the longitudinal or lateral direction.
  • the lateral direction (n) the larger the number n within a range in which no hindrance by uneven image by nozzles occurs, the smaller the number of gaps among dots.
  • interlacing masks similar to those explained in the first embodiment are used for cyan, magenta and yellow, but masks for cyan, which are complementary with those for the other colors are alternately used for then respective scans.
  • a mask for black which is completely different from those for the other color is used.
  • the black always becomes a preferential color with a high possibility, irrespective of the order of color shots. Meanwhile, the positional shifting of dots during bidirectional printing is particular noticeable at 100 % duty. Further, in order to make a longitudinal ruled line and a lateral ruled line smooth, large size masks are longitudinally and laterally arranged in an alternate manner as shown in Fig. 12. With the use of the masks shown in Figs. 22A to 22D, the longitudinally arrayed pixels can give an excellent line having unnoticeable shifting of dots in both directions even with a longitudinal ruled line since on-going (or forward) printing dots and in-coming (backward) dots are alternately shot at every other pixel.
  • Fig. 24 shows a condition such that recording is made in such a way that the interlacing masks shown in Figs. 22A to 22D are used, and are replaced with each other during every scan with cyan and yellow. It is understood that the case of this method is also identical with that shown in Fig. 18, and no ununiformity is present in every area.
  • the split and interlacing pixel array during every scan has complementary relationship, and is given by a split printing control means by which rectangular basic pixel groups having a number m of longitudinal pixels and a number n of lateral pixels, where m ⁇ n, are arranged in accordance with a predetermined arraying rule, thereby it is possible to improve hindrance by an image caused by positional shifting of dots during bidirectional printing, uneven color image, uneven image by resting and uneven image by time difference.
  • the sum of the numbers of pixels which are recorded during one of the on-going scan and the in-coming scan is different from those which are recorded during the other one of the on-going scan and the in-coming scan.
  • interlacing mask are set.
  • Fig. 25 shows this embodiment in comparison with Fig. 26. Even in this figure, such a condition that positional shifting of dots during bidirectional printing occurs, corresponding to 1/4 pixel between the on-going scan and the in-coming scan. However, in the complicated dot shot condition, it is found that instability caused by gaps and shifting of dots in this embodiment (Fig. 25) becomes less than those shown in Fig. 26.
  • Figs. 25 and 26 The difference between Figs. 25 and 26 is exhibited through the sum of recorded pixels arrays during printing in one of two directions and the sum of the recorded pixel array during printing in the other of the directions.
  • the sum of the recorded pixel array during the on-going scan is different from the sum of the recorded pixel array during in-coming scan while these scans are epual to each other in Fig. 26.
  • the numbers of pixels recorded in two reciprocating directions are not equal to each other, that is, the number of recorded pixels in one of the directions is made to be larger than that in the other of the directions so as to solve the above-mentioned direction.
  • FIG. 25 an image is completed by three time scanning recording (three pass printing) with the use of interlacing masks having complementary relationships with one another.
  • Figs. 27A to 27D show printing masks, in this embodiment, for four colors Bk, C, M, Y during respective recording scans. In this embodiment, the image is completed by three scans, and the printing masks are not synchronized with each other among C, M and Y, that is, C, M and Y are recorded without overlapping.
  • the recording operation with the use of a mask C shown in Fig. 27B will be explained.
  • the recording multi-head shown in this figure, has 54 nozzles in the longitudinal direction.
  • the feed length of a recording sheet per one time corresponds to 18 nozzles which is 1/3 of the total number of nozzles since three pass printing is carried out.
  • an image shown in the right part of Fig. 25 is completed.
  • the numbers of recorded sans are also marked. That is, "the first + the second + the third" shows that the recording is made by three passes, that the first to third passes. Since the number of recording scans is odd, the ratio between the sum of pixel arrays in one of two directions and the sum of pixel arrays in the other of the directions is 2 : 1, that is the sum of the pixel arrays in either one of the directions is larger.
  • Figs. 28A and 28B show the case of mixed color printing.
  • the recording head, the number of recording scans, the printing masks are the same as those shown in Fig. 25, that is, these figures show an example of recording for a green contact image obtained by cyan and yellow.
  • the cycle number of the recording scans is indicated as a pass cycle number, and a rectangular painted with grey indicates the recording head.
  • the recording head comprised four color heads arranged in the scanning direction (Fig. 28A).
  • Fig. 28B shows the order of shots for every sheet feed (partitioned by a lateral line) with the use of a recording color and a scanning number.
  • C1Y2 indicates such that C is recorded in the first pass and Y is shot thereonto in the second pass.
  • CnYm gives cyanic green
  • YnCm gives yellowish green.
  • a pixel array corresponding to each duty is determined in a square matrix such as a 8x8 matrix. This matrix is used for realizing an area gradation therewith, and accordingly, if an equal duty value is inputted for all matrixes, dots in equal pixel arrays are recorded so as to form a uniform image. For example, in the case of a 25 % duty image, a regular dot arrangement as shown in Fig. 29A as an example, is obtained. If this pattern is recorded with the use of this embodiment, a shot condition as shown in Fig. 29B can be obtained. Since the number of dots shot in one and the same direction is large, an image is formed without particularly noticeable textures or instability being exhibited.
  • Figs. 31A and 31B show an example in which four color heads for Bk, C, M and Y are longitudinally laid in the sheet feed direction.
  • an recording head having 24 nozzles for Y and M, 64 nozzles for Bk, and 8 nozzles for color intervals (white parts) is shown (one of rectangular in Fig. 31A, has 8 nozzles in a longitudinal direction).
  • the feed length of a recording sheet corresponds to 8 nozzles, between the printing passes (which is 1/3 of the width of the C, M and Y heads).
  • a cyan image is completed by the respective printing passes.
  • 31B shows which printing passes are used for dots which are formed during every feed of the recording sheet.
  • "1 2 3" indicates that an image is formed by passes 1, 2, 3.
  • the image is always formed in the order of Bk, C, M and Y. Accordingly, it is not required to synchronously circulate the masks in one and the same printing pass, as explained in the first embodiment, in order to prevent the masks from overlapping with each other, and therefore, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of possession of masks for respective colors, and accordingly, memories of a recording medium can be eliminated.
  • the sum of recorded pixels in the on-going direction is made to be not equal to but different from that in the in-coming direction, gaps which are produced during bidirectional printing can be made to be unnoticeable.
  • This embodiment carries out image recording by bidirectional printing with two passes, which has a recording speed higher than the above-mentioned three pass printing, in a successive color printing system using a longitudinally arranged recording heads as shown in Figs. 31A and 31B.
  • explanation will be made of a mask which is hardly affected by shifting during bidirectional printing.
  • Fig. 32 shows a printing mask and a recorded image for each pass. Since the order of colors to be recorded is always fixed in the successive color recording process, the order of ink injections are not changed even though the pixels are uniformly arrayed among several scans. Thus, the above-mentioned mask arrangement is possible.
  • the following example can prevent occurrence of erroneous determination caused by the linearity of a longitudinal ruled line as is in a conventional example, and can perform fine adjustment up to a value smaller than one pixel, that is, several ⁇ m, overcoming the conventional determination limit.
  • test pattern is formed in one and the same area.
  • a line-like pattern in the reciprocating scanning directions is preferable as the test pattern.
  • Figs. 33A to 33F creates a complete band-like area pattern (the area-patternization of a substantially band-like pattern can be substantially and equally visualized).
  • An interlacing pattern for data segments for reciprocating scans is shown in the upper part of Fig. 33A. That is, a pattern ( ⁇ 0.25 pixel, ⁇ 0.50 pixel) in which the discharge drive timing during bidirectional printing is deflected by 1.4 pixel around ⁇ 0.00 pixel as a center) is also shown (Figs. 33B to 33F).
  • the on-going recording scan and the in-coming recording scan are carried out by the block of the nozzle number of the longitudinal head x lateral four pixels so as to carry out the printing 50 % by 50 % in a complementary relationship so as to obtain form a 100 % of a solid image.
  • Figs. 31A to 33F show a pattern having longitudinal 16 pixels.
  • the effects given by this embodiment can be obtained if those which are successively laid, among all nozzles, are partially used.
  • the user designates an adjusting mode by a switch (SW) on the apparatus body, and accordingly, the body comes into a user's adjusting mode.
  • SW switch
  • the activation of this mode can be indicated to the user by LEDs or the like.
  • Figs. 34A to 340 show examples of pattern configurations, that is, these figures show patterns which are recorded through 15 steps in the paper feed direction while the positions of dots are shifted 10 ⁇ m by 10 ⁇ m during reciprocating scans, and accordingly, the user selects the most excellent one among these patterns. Since the pattern printing is carried out at three positions on the sheet surface for each of the steps, the user can make determination, totally taking into consideration with uneven carriage speed and floating of paper which occur more or less in the left and right parts of the sheet surface.
  • Model configurations each indicating a turn-on condition of four LEDs are shown between the left end pattern and the center patterns, and are adapted to be used when the user inputs his selected registration pattern into the apparatus body.
  • the user sets the LED' by means of the input switch so as to allow their condition to be coincident with a turn-on condition of LEDs indicated at one side of a most uniform pattern. For example, as shown in Figs. 34A to 340, if it is determined that a pattern located beside is most uniform, the depression of the input switch is repeated several times until the LEDs indicates , and then a memory switch is depressed while the above-mentioned condition is maintained. Accordingly, the body stores in memory the timing of jetting in both directions with which the uniform 100 % image has been obtained. Subsequently, the jetting of the heads is carried out by the above-mentioned timing for printing.
  • Figs. 34A to 340 show variation of the timing of ink jetting in both directions through 15 steps for every 10 ⁇ m, it is preferable to set the pitches and the number of steps so as to obtain more two times as large as the distance between each adjacent pixels on the one and the same sheet surface.
  • a condition of 360 dpi that is, about 70 ⁇ m of the distance between each adjacent pixels, is considered, a condition in which dots are shifted back and force from the center value, in extent of two pixels or 140 ⁇ m, can be obtained.
  • all patterns are always printed at 10 ⁇ m of equal intervals in a range of -70 ⁇ m to +70 ⁇ m.
  • patterns whose uniformities are clearly deteriorated may be formed on both sides of all patterns.
  • the printing patterns have been explained in this embodiment with a lateral four block unit, but the shape and size of this block should not be limited thereto. If a laterally long block is used, the periods by which white streaks are exhibited becomes longer, and therefore rough textures can be found. Further, if the on-going printing pattern and the in-coming printing patterns are reversed at every certain number of longitudinal pixels, short and fine white streaks are sporadically exhibited.
  • the appropriate value of the printing timing is determined from the uniformity thereof, and then this appropriate value is inputted to the body so as to compensate the positional shifting of the shots in bidirectional printing can be compensated with a high degree of accuracy.
  • Figs. 35A to 35F show an embodiment in which essential band-like line patterns are formed as test patterns, and are given by a plurality of kinds to the above-mentioned on-going and in-coming scanning processes, respectively, as more than four kinds of divided data, so as to form the above-mentioned line patterns by a plurality of reciprocating scans.
  • the effects of the present invention can be shown in comparison with Figs. 36A to 36F, similar to Figs. 33A to 33F.
  • four cycle recording scans and the paper feed by 1/4 of the head length (four pixels) are made for one and the same image area so as to perform split recording when one pattern is printed.
  • Patterns which are printed by the first to fourth recording scans are shown in Fig. 35A.
  • the pattern which is finally formed in this embodiment is a group of lateral ruled lines which are longitudinally arrayed at periods of every one pixel, and therefore a 50 % duty image can be obtained as shown in the figure. That is, the pattern configuration is such that the uniformity can be determined from longitudinal white streaks as is similar to the first embodiment.
  • the first recording scan and the third recording scan can be obtained by on-going printing while the second recording scan and the fourth recording scan can be obtained by in-coming printing.
  • the second recording scan and the fourth recording scan can be obtained by in-coming printing.
  • Figs. 37A and 37B show variations of the printing patterns for respective recording scans. From Fig. 37A in which textures caused by shifting of dots during bidirectional printing are similar to that shown in Figs. 35A to 35F, since the first and third recording scans, and the second and fourth recording scans alternately shoot inks for every pixel, the above-mentioned slippage and uneven discharge volumes inherent to nozzles can be made to be further unnoticeable. Further, Fig. 37B shows such that the second and third recording scans in the printing method shown in Figs.
  • 35A to 35F are reversed, and accordingly, white lines due to shifting of dots in both directions are exhibited at every four pixels in the lateral direction so that textures can be made to be noticeable when the shifting is further made.
  • the procedure made by the user for adjusting reciprocal registration is the same as shown in Fig, 38, and after completion of the adjustment, the timing of subsequent jetting is controlled by the inputted data.
  • a plurality of patterns with the discharge timing which is changed stepwise are formed while the split recording is carried out by two cycles of the on-going scans and two cycles of in-coming scans, and accordingly, an appropriate value of the timing of jetting is determined in view of the uniformity thereof, and is inputted into the body, thereby it is possible to compensate the positional shifting of shots during bidirectional printing with a high degree of accuracy.
  • both embodiments are also effective for color inks.
  • different color patterns may be printed as reference values and further, compensating values may be inputted independently for the respective colors.
  • the shifting of dots among colors has to be simultaneously compensated.
  • Figs. 39A to 39B show a printing pattern of four cycle recording scans used in this embodiment, and an image condition in which the timing of jetting for magenta is carried out by shifting of a unit of 1/4 pixel with respect to that for black.
  • estimation is made such that a pattern is formed by four cycles of split recording scans, similar to the second embodiment. Accordingly, factors causing slippage of dots and uneven discharge volumes due to uneven nozzles can be also eliminated beforehand also in this embodiment.
  • the red hue in the pattern is gradually decreased as a whole, and then the red hue born by the patterns is increased from the pattern having a greatest black hue as a boundary.
  • the user selects the part having a least red hue, and inputs the same, similar to the embodiments explained hereinabove.
  • ink jet used in this embodiment is considered such that the color heads carry out bidirectional printing, and accordingly, it is considered that the user carries out both compensation for shifting of dots among colors and compensation for shifting of dots during bidirectional printing for each color are carried.
  • Fig. 40 is a flow-chart which shows these compensating processes.
  • the apparatus body comes at first into a dot shifting compensating mode for respective colors.
  • the user confirms that the compensating mode is activated from a LED turn-on condition or the like, and then he presses a start switch so that the apparatus body initiates the printing of dot shifting compensating patterns for respective colors with the use of four color heads.
  • Samples outputted at this time are those which are obtained by arraying the patterns shown in Figs. 39A to 39F in such a manner as shown in Figs. 34A to 340, and the patterns are printed for three combinations, that is, black and cyan, black and magenta, and black and yellow. Also in this case, the timing of jetting is change by 15 steps for every 10 ⁇ m, and LED configurations corresponding respectively to these patterns are also printed, similar to shown in Figs. 34A to 340.
  • the user selects a pattern which is nearest to black for each of three colors, and sets an LED condition at a position where selection is made for cyan so that the timing of jetting in the on-going direction for cyan is stored in memory by a memory switch.
  • the inputting and storing operation are carried out for magenta and yellow.
  • the apparatus body comes into a bidirectional dot position compensating mode.
  • the user confirms that the printing of samples is again possible, and then depresses the start switch. Accordingly, the printing of patterns for bidirectional dot position compensation is initiated with the use of the four color heads.
  • the thus printed patterns are shown in Figs. 35A to 35F, in which the timing of jetting are changed also by 15 steps for every 10 ⁇ m, and LED configurations corresponding respectively thereto are also printed.
  • the user selects a pattern having the most satisfactory uniformity for each of the colors, and compensating values are inputted in the order of black, cyan, magenta and yellow with the use of the LEDs.
  • the dot position compensating mode are completed, and accordingly, the apparatus body comes into a normal printing mode.
  • the timing of jetting for each of the colors is adjusted to that for a black head in printing in one of the directions, and thereafter, the timing of jetting for each color in the in-coming direction is adjusted to that in the on-going direction. Accordingly, it is required to previously have such an arrangement that the on-going printing and the in-coming printing for respective colors can be compensated, independent from one another.
  • a plurality of patterns are formed by changing the timing of jetting stepwise so as to determine the appropriate values for the timing of jetting for the respective color heads, from the uniformities thereof, and then they are inputted into the apparatus body, thereby it is possible to compensate the positional shifting of shots during bidirectional printing with a high degree of accuracy.
  • Fig. 41 shows a block diagram showing a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
  • a means 1 for designating a test printing mode which is satisfied by the one serving as an operational mechanism for carrying out a test printing mode for a normal recording mode.
  • this means also has a function for designating a test pattern in the test pattern printing mode by designating one of a plurality of above-mentioned different test patterns for one and the same area, a function for selecting one of a first pattern including, as a test patten area, the center part area of a recording medium and areas on the left and right sides of the center part area, and a second pattern including, as a test pattern, areas having a number smaller than of the first pattern.
  • a reciprocating registration compensating means 2 in the reciprocating scans for printing which does not effect any function when no new compensating function is present, but activates a memory means 3 for storing the timing of printing which enables predetermined rewrite including the reciprocating registration upon reciprocating scans.
  • the memory means 3 uses the reciprocating restoration upon reciprocating scans stored in memory, as a reciprocating registration in reciprocating recording scans in a normal recording mode.
  • Reference numeral 8 denotes means (which will be explained, such as automatically determining means or the like) of determining a condition of a test pattern on a memory medium 10 or a printing determining means as a means manipulated by the user, which actuates the reciprocating registration compensating means 2 so as to carry out a compensation inputted into the printing determining means 8 so as to rewrite the reciprocating registration in the memory means 3.
  • reference numeral 5 denotes a data memory means for storing, in memory, test printing data and area data which determines a printing area, having a storage means 6 for storing on-going scan data 51, in-coming scan data 52, other data and area data.
  • the adjustment can be made in accordance with a required degree of an apparatus, and accordingly, there can be enumerated, for example, the first test pattern for determination with a high degree of accuracy, including, as a printing area, the center part area of a recording medium and areas on the left and right side of the center part area, so that, for example, determination with a high degree of accuracy can be made upon delivery, and thereafter, the user can carry out the normal level determination.
  • the second test pattern having a number of areas less than that of the first pattern is used for the normal level determination.
  • the on-going data is shown being attached with "1”
  • the in-coming data is shown being attached with "2".
  • the recording data Z is often normally used or fixedly used.
  • the recording data Z is applied as more than four kinds of different divided data (A1, B1, A2, B2) to the above-mentioned on-going scanning process (A1, B1) and the above-mentioned in-coming scanning process (A2, B2), respectively, by plural kinds for each scanning process, and accordingly, with a plurality of reciprocating scans, the above-mentioned test patterns are printed as explained in the embodiments hereinabove.
  • a well-known carriage reciprocating means 4 incorporates a motor as a reciprocating drive changeover means 41, and a positional detecting mechanism such as an encoder.
  • a well-known had drive means 7 is a thermal jet type ink jet head drive means which has been proposed by Canon Co., using a membrane boiling, in this embodiment, and incorporates a means 71 for changing over reciprocating printing with the timing corresponding to the above-mentioned reciprocating registration. In the print test mode, similar to Figs.
  • the head drive means 7 forms a plurality of the above-mentioned testing patterns in which the timing of reciprocating scan registration patterns for the above-mentioned divided patterns, is made to be different by a range smaller than 1.00 pixel with the use of the multi-heads 9 incorporating several heating element for forming air bubbles.
  • the ink jet head has a head structure in which a plurality of color heads are incorporated after adjustment to the relative positions is completed, the adjustment to registration for each of the heads can be determined by ink tests for only one head part of them, and accordingly, it can be understood that the block diagram in this embodiment can be applied for any one of a monocolor head and a head in which a plurality of color heads are integrally incorporated.
  • a pointed pattern is read by a ready device attached to the main body and then processes from the check of uniformity up to the input of a determined appropriate valve are automatically conducted.
  • Fig. 42 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus used in this embodiment, a CCD camera is attached as the reading device, beside a carriage.
  • Fig. 43A shows a reading part of the CCD camera as viewed from the sheet surface side, in which CCDs are arranged, in one row, in the nozzle laying direction, having a pixel density equal to nozzle pitches.
  • the carriage carries out additional one scan during which a density distribution in the scanning direction can be read by CCDs.
  • Figs. 44A to 440 show patterns similar to those shown in Figs. 34A to 340 and the density distributions thereof.
  • the density distributions in the pattern scanning directions can be obtained as shown on the right sides of the figures.
  • the abscissa gives addresses in the scanning direction
  • the ordinate gives the density.
  • a large density amplitude is obtained at a position where the degree of shifting of dots during bidirectional printing is large, and accordingly, the amplitude becomes substantially zero at a position where no shifting of dots occurs.
  • a plurality of CCD cameras are sued so that the averaged value of data read thereby is used as the density distribution, individual uneven characteristics of the CCD cameras and uneven characteristics during scans can be compensated. Accordingly, the uniformity of the density distribution can be determined with high resolution, and therefore, an appropriate value can be precisely determined among a plurality of patterns. Thereafter, the apparatus body automatically stores in memory the thus determined appropriate value so as to use the value for subsequent recording.
  • the apparatus body automatically carries out all of reading, determination and storage in memory, and accordingly, only one time designation for the adjusting mode is required for the user, and other complicated manipulations are not required. Further, with the provision of high resolution cameras the compensation itself is also accurate.
  • this embodiment can carry out the compensation of shifting of dots for respective color multi-heads explained in the third embodiment.
  • the differences among the patterns are not exhibited by differences among amplitudes but exhibited by differences among hues, and accordingly, the CCD cameras have to detects differences among hues for every pattern.
  • Fig. 43B CCD cameras incorporating different color filters for red (R), green (G) and yellow (Y) are alternately arranged.
  • a reading scan is carried out for each of patterns, and the respective CCD cameras read their density distributions.
  • averaged values in the scanning directions are obtained and further, averaged values for the same color filters are obtained so as to be used as densities for the respective colors. That is, the average value for the red filters gives the density of cyan, that for the green filters give the density of magenta, and that for the blue filters gives the density of yellow.
  • the plurality of patterns are read by the reading device of the apparatus body, and appropriate values for the timing of jetting during bidirectional printing or for the respective heads are determined in accordance with the uniformities thereof, and are automatically inputted and stored in the apparatus body, thereby it is possible to precisely compensate positional shifting of shots.
  • the recording of a uniform pattern is completed by carrying out split recording (or respective color multi-heads) by the on-going scan and the in-coming scan for one and the same printing area
  • the appropriate value for the timing of recording for bidirectional recording is determined from the degree of excellency of the uniformities of the above-mentioned patterns (or differences among hues), and is stored in memory, thereby it is possible to carry out the compensation for shifting of dots with a high degree of accuracy which cannot be obtained before, and further it is possible to obtain a high quality image.
  • the limitation to the conventional determination using the linearity of ruled lines can be overcome, and accordingly, the image can be held to be satisfactory so that fine adjustment less than one pixel, that is, several ⁇ m can be made. Further, even though the quality or thickness of recording medium varies, a satisfactory image condition having a satisfactory recording characteristic and a high degree of accuracy can be provided. In particular, in the case of bidirectional printing or in the case of recording with the use of plural color heads, the level of appropriating dot positions can be remarkably enhanced, thereby it is possible to enhance the recording speed for color printing and the quality of image.
  • This system is applicable for either of the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, and in particular, the on-demand type is more effective since membrane boiling is effected at the thermally acting surface of a recording head with the use of thermal energy which is produced from electrothermally energy converting media that are held opposing a sheet or a liquid passage for holding liquid (ink) when at least one drive signal for rapidly increasing a temperature exceeding a nuclei boiling point is applied to the electrothermally energy converting media in accordance with recording data, and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) which directly corresponds to the drive signal. With the use of the expansion and contraction of the air bubbles, the liquid (ink) can be jetted through jet ports so as to form at least one liquid droplet. It is more preferable if this drive signal has a pulse-Like shape since the expansion and contraction of air bubbles can be readily and suitably carried out so that jetting of the liquid (ink) having an excellent responsiveness can be attained.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-123670 which concerns common slits that are used as jetting parts of a plurality of electrothermally energy converting media, or the arrangement disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461 which concerns opening holes for absorbing pressure waves having thermal energy, which are opposed to jetting parts can be preferably used.
  • a recording head of a replaceable chip type which can be electrically connected with the apparatus body and which can be fed with ink from the apparatus body, or a recording head of a cartridge type with which an ink tank is integrally incorporate can be effectively used in the present invention.
  • the restoring means, an auxiliary assist means or the like may be preferably used for the recording head since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized.
  • these means are such as capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or sucking means for the recording head, and auxiliary assist means for the electrothermally energy converting media, another heating elements or the combination thereof.
  • ink which prevents a temperature rise caused by thermal energy by positively using the temperature rise as energy for the phase conversion from the solid phase into the liquid phase, or ink which is held in a sold phase in a leaving state in order to prevent the ink from being evaporated may be used.
  • ink having such a feature that it is liquefied, at first time, upon application of thermal energy such as ink which is liquefied in response to the application of recording signal for thermal energy and is jetted as liquid ink, ink which is already solidified at the time of arrival at a recording medium, or the like.
  • the ink may be set in such a configuration as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
  • ink is held in a recess part formed of a porous sheet, or in through-holes so as to be opposed to the electrothermally energy converting media.
  • the most effective one of the above-mentioned kinds is such that the above-mentioned membrane boiling is carried out.
  • the recording apparatus can be used as an image output terminal which is integrally or separatably incorporated with the above-mentioned data processing equipments such as word-processors or computers, or can have a configuration of a copying machine in combination with an image reader, of facsimile machine having signal transmitting and receiving functions.
  • the present invention is also applicable for another ink jet type such as using piezo elements or the like.

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)

Claims (26)

  1. Procédé d'enregistrement de motifs de test pour un réglage d'écart de position d'impression dans un appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre dans lequel une tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207; 1208; 1209; 1210) ayant une pluralité d'éléments d'enregistrement est animée d'un mouvement alternatif dans une direction de balayage principal différente d'une direction prédéterminée dans laquelle la pluralité d'éléments d'enregistrement sont alignés, et dans lequel la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) est amenée à éjecter de l'encre pour enregistrer sur un support d'enregistrement (10) pendant les mouvements d'aller et de retour de la tête d'enregistrement dans la direction de balayage principal, le procédé comprenant l'enregistrement d'un premier motif de test pendant un mouvement aller de la tête d'enregistrement et l'enregistrement d'un second motif de test pendant un mouvement retour de la tête d'enregistrement,
    caractérisé en ce que :
    le premier motif de test a une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant à plusieurs pixels et laisse un espace d'une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant aux plusieurs pixels ; et
    le second motif de test est enregistré dans ledit espace et a une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant à la longueur de l'espace.
  2. Procédé d'enregistrement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés sous la forme de motifs analogues à des lignes dans la direction de balayage principal.
  3. Procédé d'enregistrement selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés sous la forme de plusieurs motifs analogues à des lignes dans la direction de balayage principal avec des intervalles fins entre eux perpendiculaires à la direction de balayage principal.
  4. Procédé d'enregistrement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés sous la forme de motifs de lignes sensiblement analogues à des bandes dans la direction de balayage principal.
  5. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel les premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés sous la forme de motifs analogues à des lignes dans la direction de balayage principal et le second motif de test est enregistré entre des enregistrements successifs du premier motif de test.
  6. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel les premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés conformément à quatre ou plus de quatre jeux de données divisées, plusieurs jeux de données divisées étant fournis à la tête d'enregistrement pendant des mouvements respectifs aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement afin de former les premier et second motifs de test pendant une pluralité de mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement.
  7. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant en outre l'utilisation en tant que tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210), d'une tête à jet d'encre comportant une pluralité d'orifices à jet d'encre agencés dans une direction croisant la direction de balayage principal.
  8. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210), est pourvue d'une pluralité de parties de tête qui sont incorporées de façon intégrée entre elles et sont agencées à des intervalles de position ajustés, et le procédé comprend en outre la détermination d'un ajustement de cadrage de chacune des parties de tête par un essai d'encre de l'une des parties de tête.
  9. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel une pluralité desdits premier et second motifs de test sont enregistrés conformément à une pluralité de temps de cadrage aller et retour; et le procédé comprend en outre la modification des temps de cadrage aller et retour tout en enregistrant dans une plage de moins de 1,00 pixel.
  10. Procédé d'enregistrement selon la revendication 9, comprenant en outre la correction des temps de cadrage aller et retour tout en enregistrant dans une plage de moins de 1,00 pixel.
  11. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel les données pour l'enregistrement des premier et second motifs de test pendant des mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) comprennent des données divisées correspondant à une pluralité de points qui sont enregistrés successivement pendant l'un des mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement.
  12. Procédé d'enregistrement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, comprenant en outre l'enregistrement d'une pluralité de jeux de premiers et seconds motifs de test différents dans certaines, respectives, d'une pluralité de zones de motifs de test et la désignation d'un jeu de premiers et seconds motifs de test en désignant une zone de motif de test correspondante.
  13. Procédé d'enregistrement selon la revendication 12, dans lequel la pluralité de jeux de premiers et seconds motifs de test différents sont enregistrés afin de fournir à chacune de la pluralité de zones de motifs de test une première zone de motif d'enregistrement comprenant une:zone centrale d'enregistrement de test et des zones de gauche et de droite d'enregistrement de test et une seconde zone de motif d'enregistrement ayant un certain nombre de zones d'enregistrement de test qui est inférieur à celui de la première zone de motif d'enregistrement.
  14. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre destiné à utiliser une tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) ayant une pluralité d'éléments d'enregistrement pour éjecter de l'encre afin d'enregistrer sur un support d'enregistrement (10), l'appareil comportant :
    un moyen de balayage (4 ; 1202, 1205) destiné à animer d'un mouvement alternatif la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) dans une direction de balayage principal différente d'une direction prédéterminée dans laquelle la pluralité d'éléments d'enregistrement sont alignés ; et
    un moyen de commande (1201) destiné à amener la tête d'enregistrement à éjecter de l'encre pour enregistrer une image sur un support d'enregistrement pendant des mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement dans la direction de balayage principal, le moyen de commande (1201) pouvant être mis en oeuvre, en réponse à un ordre pour enregistrer un motif de test de réglage d'écart de position d'impression, pour amener la tête d'enregistrement à enregistrer un premier motif de test pendant un mouvement aller de la tête d'enregistrement et pour enregistrer un second motif de test pendant un mouvement retour de la tête d'enregistrement, caractérisé en ce que
    le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test de façon que le premier motif de test ait une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant à plusieurs pixels et laisse un espace d'une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant aux plusieurs pixels et afin qu'un second motif de test soit enregistré dans ledit espace et ait une longueur, dans la direction de balayage principal, correspondant à la longueur de l'espace.
  15. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207; 1208; 1209; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test afin que les premier et second motifs de test soient des motifs analogues à des lignes dans la direction de balayage principal.
  16. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 15, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test afin que les premier et second motifs de test soient composés d'une pluralité de motifs analogues à des lignes dans la direction de balayage principal avec de légers intervalles entre eux dans une direction perpendiculaire à la direction de balayage principal.
  17. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test afin que les premier et second motifs de test soient des motifs sensiblement analogues à des bandes dans la direction de balayage principal.
  18. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test sous la forme de motifs de lignes dans la direction de balayage principal et à enregistrer le second motif de test entre des enregistrements successifs du premier motif de test.
  19. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener la tête d'enregistrement (9 ; 1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) à enregistrer les premier et second motifs de test conformément à quatre ou plus de quatre jeux de données divisées et à fournir plusieurs jeux de données divisées à la tête d'enregistrement pendant des mouvements respectifs aller et retour afin de former les premier et second motifs de test pendant une pluralité de mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement.
  20. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, dans lequel la tête d'enregistrement comporte une pluralité de parties (1207 ; 1208 ; 1209 ; 1210) de têtes à jet d'encre qui sont incorporées de façon intégrée les unes aux autres et agencées à intervalles ajustés en position, chacune desdites parties de tête comprenant une pluralité d'orifices à jet d'encre agencés dans une direction croisant la direction de balayage principal, et l'appareil comporte en outre un moyen (1201) destiné à déterminer un ajustement de cadrage pour chacune desdites parties de tête conformément à un essai d'encre de l'une desdites parties de tête.
  21. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour amener une pluralité des premiers et seconds motifs de test à être enregistrés conformément à des données divisées ayant un temps de cadrage aller et retour qui est modifié tout en enregistrant dans une plage de moins de 1,00 pixel.
  22. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 21, comportant en outre un moyen de correction (1201) destiné à corriger les temps de cadrage aller et retour tout en enregistrant dans une plage de moins de 1,00 pixel.
  23. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 17, dans lequel le moyen de commande (1201) peut être mis en oeuvre pour fournir des données divisées, correspondant aux premiers et seconds motifs de test, à la tête d'enregistrement pendant des mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement afin qu'une pluralité de points soient enregistrés successivement pendant l'un des mouvements aller et retour de la tête d'enregistrement.
  24. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 23, comportant en outre un moyen à mémoire (15) destiné à stocker des données, ledit moyen à mémoire ayant un moyen de désignation destiné à désigner une pluralité de zones de motifs de test pour amener le moyen de commande (1201) à provoquer l'enregistrement des premiers et seconds motifs de test dans une ou plusieurs zones de la pluralité de zones de motifs de test.
  25. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon la revendication 24, dans lequel la pluralité de zones de motifs de test comprennent une première zone de motif d'enregistrement comprenant une zone centrale d'enregistrement de test et des zones de gauche et de droite d'enregistrement de test, et une seconde zone de motif d'enregistrement ayant un nombre de zones d'enregistrement de test qui est inférieur à celui de la première zone de motif d'enregistrement.
  26. Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 à 25, comportant en outre un moyen destiné à lire une condition d'enregistrement du motif d'ajustement et à effectuer un ajustement du cadrage.
EP01203064A 1993-05-27 1994-05-26 Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre Expired - Lifetime EP1162568B1 (fr)

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JP12639393A JP3332471B2 (ja) 1993-05-27 1993-05-27 インクジェット記録方法及び記録装置
JP12639393 1993-05-27
JP12639493 1993-05-27
JP12639493A JP3332472B2 (ja) 1993-05-27 1993-05-27 インクジェット記録方法
JP23332693 1993-09-20
JP23332693A JP3444937B2 (ja) 1993-09-20 1993-09-20 インクジェットプリント方法及びインクジェット記録装置
JP25849993A JP3323603B2 (ja) 1993-10-15 1993-10-15 インクジェット記録方法
JP25849993 1993-10-15
EP94303807A EP0631257B1 (fr) 1993-05-27 1994-05-26 Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre

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EP94303807A Expired - Lifetime EP0631257B1 (fr) 1993-05-27 1994-05-26 Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre
EP01203064A Expired - Lifetime EP1162568B1 (fr) 1993-05-27 1994-05-26 Méthode et appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre

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ATE373282T1 (de) 2007-09-15
DE69431460T2 (de) 2003-02-27
ATE403909T1 (de) 2008-08-15
EP0631257B1 (fr) 2002-10-02
US6164745A (en) 2000-12-26
EP1162567A2 (fr) 2001-12-12
EP0631257A2 (fr) 1994-12-28
DE69435122D1 (de) 2008-09-18
EP1162567A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
EP1162568A2 (fr) 2001-12-12
DE69435024T2 (de) 2008-06-12
EP0631257A3 (fr) 1995-08-16
ATE225540T1 (de) 2002-10-15
EP1162567B1 (fr) 2008-08-06
DE69435024D1 (de) 2007-10-25
EP1162568A3 (fr) 2002-06-12
DE69431460D1 (de) 2002-11-07

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